Âé¶¹Ö±²¥

Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Magazine

One Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Plaza East by the Numbers

Posted
July 8, 2026
Detailed cross-section rendering of One Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Plaza East.
Image
One Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Plaza East photographed from Gold Street.
One Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Plaza East seen from Gold Street.

How do you measure the transformation of a campus icon? For One Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Plaza East, the answer starts with a 390-foot crane, 427 seats in the reimagined Schimmel Theater, 259 upgraded dorm rooms in Maria’s Tower, and more than 10,000 square feet of new scene and costume shop spaces. But the numbers tell only part of the story. Together, they add up to a once-in-a-generation renovation designed to expand creative arts education, strengthen student life, improve accessibility, and help Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ build a more sustainable future in the heart of downtown Manhattan.

390 Feet

The approximate length of the crane used during the Spring 2024 semester.
One of the largest crane operations on the East Coast helped bring the scale of the One Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Plaza East transformation into full view, reaching approximately 330 feet high.

560 Doors

In Maria’s Tower.
A small detail with a big number, showing the scale of the residential renovation.

5,000+ Light Fixtures and Accessories

For new theaters, support spaces, and classrooms. The Âé¶¹Ö±²¥-purchased lighting package will support performance venues, theater-support spaces, and learning environments throughout the project.

146 Sinks and Faucets

Throughout One Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Plaza East. Behind every major transformation are hundreds of essential details—right down to the sinks and faucets.

80 Outlets

New convenience outlets for student use. The renovation includes more places for students to plug in, power up, and stay connected.

427 Seats

The future capacity of the reimagined Schimmel Theater. The new Schimmel Theater will feature orchestra and balcony seating, including six boxes with 24 box seats.

ADA Access on Every Major Level

A more accessible Schimmel Theater experience. The reimagined venue will include ADA access on every major level, including the orchestra, balcony seating, stage, and even the catwalks.

450 Linear Feet

New catwalks in the Schimmel and Black Box Theaters. The project will add approximately 450 linear feet of catwalks, giving students hands-on access to professional theater environments.

50 Linesets

A new fly tower for the Schimmel Theater. The new fly tower will include 50 linesets, supporting more sophisticated staging and production possibilities.

2,250 Square Feet

New Makerspace and Zine Library. One Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Plaza East will be home to a state-of-the-art Makerspace and the Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Zine Library, expanding opportunities for hands-on creative work.

3,200 Square Feet

New student-centered common spaces. The renovation will add café seating, common areas, a student lounge, and residential amenity space.

10,800 Square Feet

New scene and costume shop spaces. One Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Plaza East will feature major new production spaces, including one of the largest collegiate costume shops in the world.

259 Rooms

Upgraded residential rooms in Maria’s Tower. The renovation will bring major improvements to student residential life at One Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Plaza East.

28 Steps

The new Spruce Street Stoop. With 28 steps and 14 seating steps, the new stoop will create a welcoming place to pause, gather, and experience campus life along Spruce Street.

238 Acres

Reducing Our Footprint

The forest equivalent of the lighting upgrade’s carbon reduction. The carbon reduction associated with the lighting upgrade is equivalent to the carbon sequestered by more than 238 acres of forest in one year.

Piece by piece, number by number, One Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Plaza East is taking shape—and in Fall 2026, Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ students will step into a transformed campus experience.

More from Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Magazine

Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Magazine

Inside the newly revitalized One Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Plaza East, Âé¶¹Ö±²¥â€™s Commercial Dance students got their first glimpse of a space built for the way they move, create, and collaborate. What began as a social media shoot became a live lesson in experiential learning, as Sands students choreographed, directed, and performed original movement in minutes—offering a joyful preview of Âé¶¹Ö±²¥â€™s next chapter in the performing arts.

Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Magazine

From celebrating 120 years of Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ pride to earning national recognition, launching new centers, advancing sustainability, and empowering students to lead, this semester offered 10 inspiring reminders of Âé¶¹Ö±²¥â€™s momentum—and the community driving it forward.

Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Magazine

From Peabody-winning storytelling and major musical theatre honors to global AI collaboration and civic engagement tied to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ faculty are earning national and international recognition for work that reaches far beyond the classroom.